Mix of youth, experience greets successful GHS swim team

August 24, 2012|By Ian Callison, HT Sports Assistant

GAYLORD — A mix of seasoned veterans, first-timers, specialized swimmers and divers make up the recipe for this year’s Gaylord girls’ swim team, which is looking to continue the tradition of recent success in the Independent Swim Conference.

“This is an extremely well-rounded team,” said coach Barb Switalski. “There is not one area that I am worried about.”

Last year, the girls had one of their best seasons to date. Led by a core group of record-breaking, state-qualifying seniors, the Blue Devils were crowned co-champions with Bay City John Glenn in the ISC. But that group of seniors graduated, leaving big shoes to fill.

“I’m not worried,” Switalski said. “The experienced swimmers are up to the task and are capable to take the places of the ex-swimmers.”

Kathleen Lucas holds this year’s title of team captain.

“She’s a great captain,” Switalski said. “She’s perfect for the job she has.”

Fairchild competes as the team’s veteran diver, and coach Switalski has hopes for a place in conference and a regional diving qualification.

“The juniors and seniors will set the pace,” Switalski predicted. “All the juniors look really strong this year. I’d like them to realize their potential and step up to the next level.”

A squad of sophomores, Cierra Woods, Rebecca Rogers, Bianca Wier and Amy Matuzak, round out the rest of the experienced swimmers.

“Weir is definitely going to have a good season,” Switalski said. “She had a really strong (season) as just a freshman last year and will surely improve.”

Switalski said it is the team’s new swimmers who could make a difference in the end.

“All these new swimmers can swim, and well,” she said. “Everyone has a good front crawl and a decent backstroke. Only 10 days into the season and these girls are already working on butterfly. Everyone is interested in doing well.”

Twelve new swimmers have joined the team.

Five freshmen, Jaime Buck, Maddy Sides, Maddy Zeilinger, Gabby Rose and Skyler Schneider, will compete for the historically successful squad. Of the handful, four were members of the Gaylord Gators program.Sophomores Abbie Elliot, Aimee Kilborn, Shelby Richter and Kelsey Stanley also have joined the team. Richter and Stanley will join Fairchild as the team’s divers.

Three seniors, Audrie Fournier, Julia Klokner and Megan Lamb, will start their first year of swimming this fall as well.

“Fournier has beautiful freestyle and amazing potential, Lamb is an outstanding athlete with a great drive, and Klokner, (a Brazilian foreign exchange student), has a lot of experience under her belt and has a great season in store,” Switalski said.

The team is one of the biggest Switalski has had in recent years, and she aims to send several swimmers to the State individual meet. She claims that records will be broken this season and that the relays will be very strong. As many as three relay teams even have the potential to go to the State meet.

The Blue Devils open their season at 5 p.m. Tuesday at home against Oscoda.